“We slaughter one another in our words and attitudes. We slaughter one another in the stereotypes and mistrust that linger in our heads, and the words of hate we spew from our lips.” - Nelson Mandela

Day Three

Defining Stereotypes To recognize the role race plays within our daily lives, it is necessary to begin acknowledging the stereotypes that are seen daily. These stereotypes can paint people in a light that is not reflective of their actual character. The first step in changing this is acknowledging the existence of stereotypes and the roles they play in our lives. Stereotype: A standardized mental picture that is held in common about members of a group that represents an oversimplified opinion, attitude, or unexamined judgment, without regard to individual difference.

Equity Conversation #1 - tomorrow (2/4) at 6:00 p.m. United Way of Pierce County is hosting weekly Equity Conversations as an opportunity to share thoughts and reflections about what you are learning in a supportive space. Click below to register for today's Conversation via Zoom.

READ

What is a Stereotype (3 Minute Read) Read this article to take a deep dive into what stereotypes are to avoid using them in the future. How to Beat Stereotypes by Seeing People as Individuals (10 Minute Read) Read this piece to learn specific strategies on avoiding stereotyping alongside general info on the practice.

LISTEN

Anger: The Black Woman's 'Superpower' (19 Minute Listen) CA Sapphire isn't only a jewel - it's also cultural shorthand for an angry Black woman. In this episode, NPR looks at where Sapphire was born, and how the stereotype continues to haunt Black women, even successful, powerful ones. Stereotypes of Black Males: Misunderstood - "Wearing the Mask" (40:25) We remove our masks to explore the dual personas many Black men project to assimilate and survive in the mainstream.

WATCH

KING 5 Facing Race #9 - "Negative Stereotypes that Immigrants Face" (29:00) KING 5 examines the negative stereotypes that immigrants face. In Washington, one in seven people are immigrants. Of that group, 77% are documented, nearly half are naturalized citizens, and 38% have a college diploma. I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype (9:38) Bad driver. Math wizard. Model minority. In this hilarious and insightful talk, eighteen-year-old Canwen Xu shares her Asian-American story of breaking stereotypes, reaffirming stereotypes, and driving competently on her way to buy rice.

NOTICE

Take the Harvard Implicit Association Test Harvard's Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures the strength of associations between concepts (i.e., Black people, gay people) and evaluations (i.e., good, bad) or stereotypes (i.e., athletic, clumsy). While the majority of people taking the test show evidence of implicit bias, the correlation between a person's IAT score and discriminatory behavior is often small. However, many of us are more biased that we realize, and this is an important cause of injustice, so it is important to be aware of and work to overcome stereotypes and biases.

CONNECT

Who's in your feed? Follow Racial Justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. Consider connecting with any of the people/organizations you learn about in the daily resources. Check out "How to Avoid Picking Up Prejudice from the Media" to learn how your feed and the media can influence your biases and stereotypes.

PUT IT TO USE!

Engage - Notice your biases and stereotypes as they arise in order to excavate them from your subconscious. Reflect - What messages did you learn about race from your family, school, or friends? How might awareness of stereotypes affect your future actions and decisions?

Revisit prior days' content, download tools & resources, listen to UWPC's "Soundtrack 4 Justice," and more by visiting the  Equity Challenge Community Page.